Finals season is upon us, which only means that long study days are also around the corner. This doesn’t, however, mean that the next two weeks have to be miserable. Figuring out what study methods work for you can make this season feel a little lighter.
For starters, all study sessions should stick to the basic golden rules. Get a good night’s rest before every study session, pick a study environment that works for you and stick to it, acknowledge whether or not music is efficient for you and eliminate all distractions. In addition, it goes without saying to fuel your body with food, snacks and drinks that will elevate your energy levels and keep your focus.
Stay away from meals with low sources of energy, heavy junk food or even extremely sugary drinks as they may provide a temporary boost in energy and will eventually result in a crash.
Staying “locked in” and concentrated on your lecture material doesn’t come easily for everyone. Most people tell themselves they are just bad at studying or have trouble concentrating, and while that may be true for some, the majority of the time, it is simply the result of not knowing what study method works best for them.
HERE ARE FIVE STUDY METHODS YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY
Retrieval Practice
Retrieval practice, sometimes known as recall practice, is based on being able to recall the information repeatedly. This can be done by writing down the answers on a piece of paper and going through them, or by writing them on flashcards and quizzing yourself in order to retain the information.
Practice tests are also a great way to test what you remember. Try coming up with questions that are specific to the information you have learned, that either you can ask yourself or with which someone else can test you.
Spaced Practice
Spaced practice is a study method that involves studying over extended periods of time instead of cramming the night before an exam. It can take place over the course of three weeks, two weeks, one week or even a couple of days.
The repetition in studying over the course of a couple of days instead of the night before allows your brain to recognize the information with more ease and retain it for longer periods of time. Once the material has been taught, revisit it over the course of your studying period, over and over again, until your brain forms connections within the material.
Studying Before Bed
It goes without saying that a good night’s rest is essential for a good study session. No matter how much effort you put into concentrating, if your brain is tired, you are going to struggle more to retain any information. However, sleep can be used to your advantage in a different way.
Studying before going to sleep has been shown to improve your ability to quickly retain information. Reviewing flashcards before going to sleep can be a great way to go over new material.
The Feynman Technique
The Feynman Technique is essentially the idea of teaching the material you are learning in order to better remember it and understand it.
Try studying with a peer and taking turns “teaching” the information to each other. Pretend that neither of you has ever heard of it and practice teaching it to each other in extreme detail. Focus on one topic at a time and review different ideas and areas in which you both need to work further.
Then go back and see what areas were more of a struggle for each or to understand. Go through those topics again and again until teaching it happens with ease.
The SQ3R Studying Technique
This method is known to help with learning more specific details and vast subjects. It breaks the studying process into 5 parts that target specific methods within one.
Start by reviewing any material at your disposal by simply skimming it. Take notes on the broader topics and the general idea of the material.
Then focus on creating questions that will help you test yourself on your understanding. After, go back and re-read all the material with more detail. This time, focusing on specific key points.
Once you have a strong understanding of what you are studying, focus on summarizing and recalling all the information. Lastly, review all material once over and repeat if necessary.
Finding your study method may take some time, so don’t be discouraged if the first one you attempt isn’t the one for you. It’s trial-and-error! Remember, above all, take care of yourself during this season. Your brain will retain information more efficiently when it is in tune with good health and mental peace. Good luck on finals!